Huge Fire Near Dubai Nye Fireworks Display

[Eve]

http://news.sky.com/story/1614858/huge-fire-near-dubai-nye-fireworks-display

Hopefully no casualties.

[PankySmooch]

Watching it on the news now, seems they are playing it down saying no injuries and the firework display will still go ahead later considering the size of the fire

[-Talbot-]

It's not going to stop the fireworks display ... apparently!

[Eve]

That just seems incredible given the coverage of it on Sky News, it's not that long to the turn of the New Year there I don't think, maybe an hour or so.

It seems worrying how quickly it has gone up and to the extent that is has, would such modern buildings, as I understand it is one, have more fire controls to prevent the building going up like it has. Could it not collapse the building as so much of it is on fire?

Thankfully it doesn't seem like there are any casualties being reported.

[retrocop]

I hope "Towering Inferno" is not on offer tonight on the TV. :-(

[Eve]

Well, quite! Been quite some years since I last watched that!

[netibiza]

My daughter is there, says so many people, gathered Downtown anyway for the fireworks, it is bedlam.

[Eve]

How worrying, I hope she is safe away from any danger.

Some scary stories coming out on Sky News about people trying to get out in a panic. Strangely though, a common theme from a few callers they have spoken to seem to say there was no fire alarm going off in their parts of the building, and route out I assume, which seems strange.

[Togo]

They cancelled firework displays in some European cities because of 'terrorist threats and in deference to the sensibilities of migrants from conflict zones. God works in mysterious ways.

[Peter Pedant]

The show must go on - and there is no other reason togo to Dubai for chrissakes ....

are Christians allowed to drink alcohol there ?

[ummmm]

I believe they can in the hotels.

[tonyav]

Looks like you can if you get a liquor licence.
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/united-arab-emirates/local-laws-and-customs

[Islay]

I believe atheists can drink in hotels too!

[ivor4781]

the shoddy building materials to and contstuction blame like the big apartment block fire there a while ago no fire should be able to spread like that, good buildings will contain the fire to a specific area

[ivor4781]

SORRY i'll type that again
shoddy building materials and construction to blame for this like the big apartment block fire there a while ago, no fire should be able to spread like that, good buildings will contain the fire to a specific area

[mikey4444]

I have just heard a chap on the Today Program, who had to carry his wheelchair-bound mother down 15 flights of stairs in the hotel that was on fire. Thank goodness they were not on the 63rd floor.

[DTCwordfan]

Nice centrepiece for the show.

No one died or serious casualties, 16 minor ones inc a heart attack, probably the general manager of the hotel.

[DTCwordfan]

And yes you can drink in a hotel.

[lady-janine]

I have heard that there were not any sprinklers. I do know that (a few years ago) the architects had big arguments to get them installed in a hotel.

[sandyRoe]

Wasn't it the case in dry parts of India that you needed a chit from a doctor stating you were a dipsomaniac before you could buy a drink in a hotel bar?

[Eve]

I heard something about the cladding on the outside might have been a problem.

They had an expert on tall building fires who said something about sprinklers only being useful in smaller fires, not ones on this scale. You'd think any water would help though it it's more the outside on fire then maybe not.